Primary finding
Probable cause
The student pilot's failure to maintain airspeed (VSO) during a go-around resulting in an inadvertent stall, and subsequent in-flight collision with terrain and nose over.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The student pilot stated he was making a crosswind landing with known gusty wind conditions. The airplane yawed to the left on roundout, he applied full power to initiate a go-around. The nose of the airplane was pitched up about 10- to 20-degrees, the airspeed was about 40 knots, and the stall warning horn was on. The nose pitched down and to the left. He applied aft pressure on the control yoke. The airplane collided with the ground on the main gear, bounced and nosed over inverted.
Source record
Factual narrative
On October 4, 1996, about 1430 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 152, N94526, registered to and operated by North American Institute of Aviation as a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, crashed during a go-around at the Hartsville Municipal Airport, Hartsville, South Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a VFR flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The student pilot reported no injuries. The flight originated 2 hours 15 minutes before the accident. The student pilot stated he was making a crosswind landing with known gusty wind conditions. He turned final with the flaps extended 20 degrees. The airplane yawed to the left on roundout, and he applied full power to initiate a go-around. The nose of the airplane was pitched up about 10- to 20-degrees, the airspeed was about 40 knots, and the stall warning activated. The nose pitched down and to the left. He applied aft pressure on the control yoke. The airplane collided with the ground on the main gear, bounced, and nosed over inverted. -